Track lining apparatus



United States Patent Inventors Franz Plasser and Josef Theurer,Johanesgasse 3, Vienna, Austria Appl. No. 773,556 Filed Nov. 5, 1968Patented Dec. 15, 1970 Priority Nov. 14, 1967 Austria No. A 10279/67TRACK LINING APPARATUS 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 104/8 Int. Cl 1501b 33/02 Field of Search 104/7, 8;

Primary E xaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant ExaminerRichard A. BertschAttorney-Kurt Kelman ABSTRACT: In a track liner, the moving force orspeed of the lateral movement of the track shifting means is controlledin direct relation to the size of the alignment error at all trackpoints as the apparatus moves continuously along the track in a nonstopalignment operation.

1 TRACK LINING APPARATUS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF .THE INVENTION Thepresent invention relates to a mobile apparatus for continuously lininga track. In suchapparatus, the track is laterally moved-at points whichare out of alignment into alignment, without stoppin'ggFor this-purpose,track shifting means is provided with an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while being.

movable in relation to the'rail, i.e. in a rolling or glidingenvgagement, and means is provided for laterally moving the referencesystem determining the lateral movement of the track shifting meansmoves with the apparatus along the track during the continuous liningthereof.

It is the object of this invention to operate such an apparatus withhigh accuracy and with high efficiency so that the track is the nonstopspeed of the apparatus which progresses without stopping along thetrack. Thus, if the lateral movement is too slow, it will not becompleted at a point of large alignment error before the apparatus hasmoved on.

:track shifting means and the track engaged thereby. A I

- trol system.

To accomplish the object of the invention and to overcome the abovedisadvantage, a control means is provided for automatically changing thespeed' of the lateral movement or the moving force of the track,shifting'mean's in .direct relation to thesize' of the alignment errorat any track point.

- With this improvement, it is possible to correct even sizablealignment errors relatively quickly without impairing the ac- 40.

curacyjof the alignment or the forward speed of the apparatus.

When the alignment error is considerablethe coarse alignt ment iseffected in'the'initial lateral movement at a high speed While the finealignment, which determines the accuracy of the lining operation, iseffected in the terminal phase of the lateral movement with relativelylittle; force and slowly. Thus, the control means of the presentinvention will automatically increase the speed and/or the force of thelateral movement in direct relation to the size 'ofthe alignment error.

When pressure fluid means, such as a hydraulic-motor, is used forlaterally moving the track shifting means, the control means of thisinvention includes a servovalve. in the pressure fluid supply circuitfor varying the amount of pressure fluid supplied tothe pressure fluidmeans in direct relation to the alignment error size. I

In accordance with an important feature of the invention, the lateralpressure on the element of the trackshifting means gripping the trackrail is maintained. after the lateral movement so that the track is heldin the corrected alignment while the apparatus progresses along thetrack.

A preferred track shifting means comprises a bogie laterally movable inrespect of the track elongation and two pairs of track grippingelements, such as flanged rollers, preferably pivotally mounted on thebogie, the elements of each pair being spacedalong the track elongationand the elements of the one or the other pair gripping an associatedtrack rail. Furthermore, vibrating means is preferably provided tovibrate the track shifting means so as to facilitate the lateral trackmovement and thus to save'moving power;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The above and other objects,features andadvantages of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description of two now preferred embodiments,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a track liner of generallyconventional structure, the. arrow indicating the working direction ofthe liner;

. FIG. 2 is a top view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view, on a smaller scale, of the liner in a track curve,showing the reference lines used to control the lining operation;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the control of the lining operationaccording to one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 of another embodiment of atrack liner; FIG. 6 is a top view of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of one detail of this embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating another lining operation con- DETAILEDDESCRIPTION The mobile track liner of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a frame Iresting on running gears 2 and 3. A conventional track shifting means 4is mounted laterally movably intermediate the running gearsand, in theillustrated embodiment, substantially centrally in respect thereto. Thetrack shifting means includes elements engageable with the track railwhich isto be moved, i.e. for moving the track to the right or to theleft, the illustrated track engaging elements consisting of flangedrollers engaging each track rail. I

A conventional reference system is provided for controlling thelining'of the track 5 by the lateral movement of'the track shifting'means 4. The reference system includes a long reference line'6 and twoshort reference lines 7, 7 having half the length of reference line 6.Only one of the two short reference lines is used at any one time, line7 being used when the-liner moves in the direction of the arrow and line7' being used when the liner moves in the opposite direction, thusmakingthe liner useable in both working directions without turning itaround:

The'long reference line 6 extends between bogies 8 and 10 which'are heldat a'flxed distance from the frame I to constitute front and rearstations of the reference system, an intermediate point of the referenceline being attached to the bogie 4 of the track shifting means 4 andpassing over the bogie 9 which is the intermediate station of thereference system and serves to measure and control the lining operation.All these bogies have a fixed axle carrying flanged wheels forengagement with a respective track rail, and the axles of all the bogiesare pressed against the reference rail so as to obtain an accuratereference basis for the lining operation. .Iack shoes may be used forthis purpose, for instance, such as shown in our US. Pat. No. 3,334,592.

The short reference line 7 (or 7') runs from the bogie 4' of the trackshifting means 4 to the rear bogie 10 (or 8), over the intermediatebogie 9 (or 9' The reference lines may take any suitable form, i.e. theymay be tensioned wires, light or other electromagnetic wave beams, andthe like. In the illustrated embodiments, tensioned wires are used.

FIG. 2 illustrates the correction of considerable misalignment in brokenlines and that of a smaller misalignment in chain-dotted lines, thelarge alignment error being corrected by imparting to the track shiftingmeans faster movement arid/or stronger power while the small alignmenterror is corrected by moving the trackshifting means more slowly and/orwith less force.

In the diagram of FIG. 4, there is seen the hydraulic drive for thetrack shifting means on the left side of the FIG. while the right sideshows the circuit diagram of the alignment measuring and control meanscooperating with reference lines 6 and 7 to control the hydraulic motors11 of the track shifting means 4.

Hydraulic fluid is delivered to each motor 11 from a reservoir 13 byconstant pressure delivery pump 11' through supply conduit 12, apressure relief valve 14 in the supply conduit limiting the maximumpressure in the conduit to a set extent. Return conduits l5, 16 lead thepressure fluid back into the reservoir, conduits Hand above servovalve17 alternating their function, depending on whether the track is movedright or left.

The servovalve 17 in the supply conduit controls the amount of pressurefluid delivered tothe motor 11, thus controlling indirectly the forceand/or the speed of the lateral movement of the track shifting means 4.

The operation of the servovalve 17 is controlled by the control circuitwhich includes the alignment measuring and control elements mounted onbogie 9 (or 9') and cooperating with reference lines 6 and 7 (or 7) in amanner fully described and illustrated in our U.S. Pat. No. 3,314,373.

in this system, a threaded rotatable shaft 18 having two sections ofdifferent pitch is mounted on bogie 9 transversely of the trackelongation. A first nut carrying a potentiometer 19 is mounted on one ofthe shaft sections and is associated with the short reference line whilea second nut carrying a pair of electrical contacts is mounted on theother shaft section, with the long reference line passing between thecontacts so that a signal will be produced when the long reference linestouches either one of the contacts. Thus, the pair of contacts 20 iscapable of signalling the position of the long reference line relationthereto. The potentiometer may, of course, be replaced by any suitablemeans for varying the voltage.

The shaft 18 may be rotated by motor 21 to move the nut carrying thepair of contacts 20 intoa predetermined position in relation to the longreference line, thus automatically causing the nut carryingpotentiometer 19 to move in the same direction and at a ratio to themovement of contacts 20, which determined by the ratio of the pitches ofthe two shaft sections on which the respective nuts are mounted. Thearrangement is such that the potentiometer 19 is in the zero positionwhen the long reference line 6 passes freely between the pair ofcontacts 20 without producing a control signal. In this manner, it ispossible at all times to read, record or indicate any deviation of theshort reference line from the desired position in respect of the zeropoint of potentiometer 19.

The control circuit for operating motor 21 includes a voltage source 24delivering current through electric supply conductor 25 and 26. Branchconductors 23 connects motor 21 to supply conductor 25 while branchconductors 27, 27' connect the pair of contacts 20 to supply conductors26, conductors 22, 22' connecting the contacts to motor 21. Branchconductors 28, 30 connect potentiometer 19 to supply conductor 25, andconductor 29 delivers measuring signals from the potentiometer toindicating dial 31.

The scale of dial 31 has a relatively wide actual indicating range whichis delimited by heavy graduation. In this range, the measuringparameters, i.e. the differences in the measurements, which are in theusually narrow lining range, are indicated in a greatly enlarged scaleto make an accurate reading possible. In the final lining phase, whenaccuracy is important, the dial pointer moves in this indicating rangeof the dial, which is immediately adjacent the centrally positioned zeropoint. In the outer dial scale range adjacent each end of the centralindicating range, the dial pointer movement need not be enlarged sinceonly the coarse, initial lining movement of the track shifting means(and the track) is indicated therein.

Such a differentiated indication and recording of the track alignment onthe dial, which is advantageous for an accurate and rapid track liningoperation, may be simply obtained by amplifying the potential ofpotentiometer 19 in the final or indicating range for fine lining.

At the dial 31, the parameter measured at potentiometer 19 is receivedthrough conductor 29 and is compared there with the parameter measuredat an adjustable potentiometer 33 connected to the dial by conductor 32.The potentiometer 33 is set to the desired alignment value of the track.Any difference between the parameters (voltages) at potentiometers 19and 33 are delivered to amplifier 34 through conductor 35, thisdifferential being delivered to dial 31 through conductor 36. The signalpulses indicative of the differential are delivered from amplifier 34via selector switch 37 to servovalve 17 which accordingly varies theamount of pressure fluid delivered by pump 12' to the motors 11 ofthetrack shifting means 4. The selector switch 37 is connected by supplyconductor 25 to the voltage source 24, by conductors 42, 43 to theamplifier 34 and by conductors 37' to the servovalve 37.

The selector switch 37 is used selectively, and as required, to providean automatic control of the lining by potentiometer 19, as describedhereinabove, or to enable the lining to be manually controlled by anoperator, i.e. to correct the automatic operation at any particulartrack point where such correction may be indicated by the reading ofdial 31.

The optional manual operation is effectuated by switch 38 which isconnected by branch conductor 39 to the supply conductor 26 of theelectric control circuit. The switch 38 has a zero position, an L (left)position and an R (right) position, depending on whether the operatordesires to move the track to the left or to the right. The switchcontacts L and R are connected to the selector switch 37 by conductors40, 41 so that the operation of the servovalve may be controlledmanually if and when desired.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 8, like reference numerals indicate likeparts operating in a like manner so as to avoid repetition in thedescription. The reference system in this embodiment includes only asingle reference line 44 extending between the front and rear bogies 8and 10 in the same manner as the long reference line 6 of the previouslydescribed embodiment.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 7, the reference line 44, which may be atensioned wire, cord or cable, is affixed to the endless cables 45 and46 of two pulley drives which are spacedly mounted on the liner in thedirection of track elongation, the pulley drive 45, 47, 49 beingpositioned at the lining point where the track shifting means 4 operateand the other pulley drive 46, 48, 50 being positioned at theintermediate bogie 9 (or 9'). Each pulley drive comprises a drivingpulley 47, 48 of a rotary potentiometer and a freely rotating pulley 49,50. The relative position of the reference line 44 to bogies 4' and 9(or 9'), whose position in relation to the track is fixed determines therotary position of the potentiometers 47 and 48 which are mounted onthese bogies. The distance between the pulleys of each drive must, ofcourse, be sufficient to prevent the point of attachment of the wire 44to the cables 45, 46 to be moved onto either pulley even at points ofmaximal track alignment errors.

As shown in FIG. 8, the rotary potentiometers 47 and 48 on bogies 4 and9 are connected to the voltage source 24 by supply conductors 25, 26.The electrical measuring parameters are delivered to the amplifier 34and to the dial 31 by branch conductors 51 and 52 which connect thepotentiometers to conductors 53 and 54. The control panel 55 carries notonly a dial 31, such as described previously, but also a switch 56 whichis operated to take into account the varying ratios of the twoparameters measured at the potentiometers in transition sections of atrack curve. Manual operation may be effected by switch 57 in the samemanner as described in connection with switch 38.

The potentiometers 47 and 48 are so adjusted that the differential ofthe measured parameters at these potentiometers, which is delivered todial 31 and amplifier 34, is zero when the track is properly aligned.The desired differential is automatically produced by the distancebetween the working bogie 4' and the measuring bogie 9 (or 9) within thereference system and the length of the track section delimited by therear and front stations 8 and 10 of the reference system. This desireddifferential may be indicated electrically be electrical resistances ofdifferent size or mechanically by pulleys of different diameters.

While the present invention has been described in connection withcertain. now preferred embodiments, it will be understood that manymodifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which isconcerned with making it possible to produce a continuously progressingtrack lining operation by changing the speed and force of the liningmovement in dependence on different requirements at different trackpoints.v

We claim: 7 1

1. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said'points, which comprises atrack shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement witha track rail while beingmovable inv relation to said rail,'and means for laterally moving thetrack shifting means and the track engaged thereby; a reference systemmoving with the apparatus along the track during the continuous liningthereof, the reference system determining the lateral movement'ofjth'etrack shiftingmeans, the improvement of control means arrangedautomatically to increase the speed of the lateral movement of the trackshifting means in direct relation and response to the an increase in thesize of the alignment error at said points.

2. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, the lateral pressure on said elementbeing maintained constant during the continuous lining operation to holdthe track in the desired alignment as the apparatus continuouslyprogresses along the track, and means for laterally moving the trackshifting means and the track. engaged thereby; a reference system movingwith the apparatus along the track during the continuous lining thereof,the reference system determining the lateral-movement of the trackshifting means; and control means changing the speed of the'lateralmovement determined by the moving force of the track shifting means indirect relation to the size of the alignment error at I said points.

t -3. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at saidpoints, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with atrack rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, pressure fluid means for laterallymoving the track shifting means and the-track engaged thereby, and apressure fluid circuit for supplying pressure fluid to the pressurefluid means; a reference system moving withthe apparatus along the trackduring the continuous lining thereof, the reference system determiningthe lateral movement of the track shifting means; and control meanschanging the speed of the lateral movement determined by the movingforce of the track shifting means in direct relation to the size of thealignment error at said points, the control means including a servovalvein said circuit for varying the amount of pressure fluid supplied to thepressure fluid means in direct relation to the size of the alignmenterror.

4. In the lining apparatus of claim 3, an alignment error indicatingmeans in said reference system, said indicating means producing analignment error signal, and an amplifier for said signal between theindicating means and the servovalve.

5. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, and means for laterally moving thetrack shifting means and the track engaged thereby; a reference systemmoving with the apparatus along the track during the continuous liningthereof, the reference systemv determining the lateral movement of thetrack shifting means; and control meanschanging the speed of the lateralmovement determinedby the moving force of the track shifting means indirect relation to the size of the alignment error at said points, thereference system including an alignment error indicating means producingelectrical control signals corresponding to said error at each of saidtrack points, and said control signals operating the control means.

6'. In the lining apparatus of claim 5, the alignment error indicatingmeans including a potentiometer and the reference system also includinga reference line associated with, and controlling, the potentiometer.

7. In the lining apparatus of claim 5, an additional one of ,saidalignment error indicating means, a differential signal between the twoindicating means operating the control means.

8. In the lining apparatus of claim 7, the reference system including along reference line and a short reference line, said alignment errorindicating means being associated with a respective one of saidreference lines, one of the indicating means generating a control signalcorresponding to the desired alignment of the track and other controlsignal corresponding to the actual lateral position of the track.

9. In the lining apparatus of claim 8, wherein the track shifting meansis arranged at the front end of the short reference line and thealignment error indicating means generating the other control signal isarranged substantially centrally between the ends of the short referenceline.

shifting means is arranged at the front alignment error indicatingmeans.

12. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateralpressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, and means for laterally moving thetrack shifting means and the track engaged thereby; a reference systemmoving with the apparatus along the track during the continuous liningthereof, the reference system determining the lateral movement of thetrack shifting means; and control means changing the speed of thelateral movement determined by the moving force of the track shiftingmeans in direct relation to the size of the alignment error at saidpoints, and a manually operable switch for operating the control means.

i 13. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including two elements spaced apart along thetrack elongation and held under lateral pressure in gripping. engagementwith a track rail while being movable in relation to said rail, andmeans for laterally moving the track shifting means and the trackengaged thereby; a reference system moving with the apparatus along thetrack during the continuous lining thereof, the reference systemdetermining the lateral movement of the traclg shifting means; andcontrol means changing the speed of the lateral movement determined bythe moving force of the track shifting means in direct relation to thesize of the alignment error at said points.

14. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, means for vibrating the track shiftingmeans, and

track shifting means; and control means changing the speed of thelateral movement determined by the moving force of the track shiftingmeans in direct relation to the .size of the alignment error at saidpoints.

15. In a mobile apparatus for continuously lining a track by laterallymoving the track at points which are out of alignment into alignmentwithout stopping at said points, which comprises a track shifting means,the track shifting means including an element which is held underlateral pressure in gripping engagement with a track rail while beingmovable in relation to said rail, and means for laterally movingthetrack shifting means and the track engaged thereby; a referencesystem moving with the apparatus along the track during the continuouslining thereof, the reference system determining the lateral movement ofthe track'shifting means, and an indicating dial connected to thereference system for visually indicating the lateral track positionsensed by the reference system; and control means changing the speed ofthe lateral movement determined by the moving force of the trackshifting means in direct relation to the size of the alignment error atsaid points.

16. In the lining apparatus of claim 15, wherein the indicating dial hasa scale including a zero mark indicating correct alignment and a scalerange adjacent the zero mark, said scale range indicating alignmenterrors on an amplified scale.

